ASU basketball's Jahii Carson has shined in Las Vegas

In a town where fortunes change with every roll of the dice, Jahii Carson has found a way to beat the odds.

ASU guard Jahii Carson (1) scored 40 points in Las Vegas against UNLV earlier this season, and has a impressive body of work in the city where the Pac-12 Conference Tournament takes place.(Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)

In a town where fortunes change with every roll of the dice, Jahii Carson has found a way to beat the odds. In five career games in Sin City, the Arizona State sophomore point guard has averaged 28 1/2 points, giving the Sun Devils an ace up the sleeve as they open the Pac-12 Tournament Thursday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

"You know, I feel like it's showtime in Vegas,'' Carson said. "Everybody has all the energy. The gambling's going on. I feel like people are there to see a show, so I try to put on one."

Historically, ASU hasn't had much luck at this event. In 16 years, the Sun Devils never have won the tournament. Eleven times they have left without winning a game.

Carson, a first-team All-Pac-12 selection, is determined to change ASU's course. Three times over his two-year career he has set a career-scoring high in Las Vegas. On Nov. 24, 2012, in his fifth college game, Carson scored 30 points against Creighton in the Las Vegas Invitational. Nearly four months later, in his first postseason game, the point guard scored 34 against Stanford in ASU's Pac-12 Tournament opener.

ASU's Jahii Carson explains his decision to leave ASU after this season to azcentral sports' Alexan Balekian after the win vs. Cal.

On Nov. 19 of this season, he scored 40 at UNLV, leading the Sun Devils to a win over the Runnin' Rebels. In addition to his scoring, Carson has averaged four rebounds and 5.4 assists here. He has shot 59.5 percent from the field, including 7 of 12 from 3-point range, and 74 percent from the foul line.

Carson's comfort with Las Vegas stems from his AAU days. In high school, he recalls having solid games against Oklahoma State standout Le'Bryan Nash and Indiana's Yogi Ferrell. He said he first played in Las Vegas at age 8.

"A lot of memories," Carson said.

When asked about Carson's Vegas act, ASU coach Herb Sendek turned the focus to the team. He wants ASU to play together, moving the ball, finding the open shooter. He also wants the Sun Devils to play with more toughness. In Saturday's loss at Oregon State, they gave up too many second-chance points and points off turnovers.

"Huge issue," Sendek said of ASU's rebounding. "Saturday, (Oregon State's) Eric Moreland … I can't remember the last time I saw someone get nine offensive rebounds by himself in a single game. He had as many offensive rebounds as our leading rebounder. We got to put a body on people, and we got to go get the ball. It's not any more complicated than that."

One thing in ASU's corner: Unlike previous seasons, the Sun Devils are not in position where they have to make a tournament run to make the NCAA Tournament field. With a strong RPI ranking of 37, ASU is expected to make its first NCAA Tournament since 2009, even if the Sun Devils and their fans remain unconvinced.

"I can understand their trepidation," ESPN tournament expert Joe Lunardi said. "They've seen this movie before, and it hasn't always ended well. But I would like to reassure (ASU fans) that Arizona State will be in the tournament no matter what. Could they slide all the way down to the First Four in Dayton? Possibly, but I think that's very unlikely."

March 8 - Oregon State's Devon Collier dunks over Arizona State's Jordan Bachynski during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Corvallis, Ore. Associated Press

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ASU: The third-seeded Sun Devils (21-10) enter the tournament coming off two losses, both away from home, where they haven't fared well. Away from Wells Fargo Arena, where it went 16-1 this season, ASU is just 5-9. An issue: Jermaine Marshall's knee. The senior guard – ASU's second-leading scorer – tore his patella tendon in high school and it often gets sore. ASU typically gives Marshall the day off following games, but that won't be possible if ASU wins in the Pac-12 Tournament. Marshall (15.4 ppg) shot 1 of 12 in last Saturday's loss at Oregon State. During the regular season, ASU split with Stanford, beating the Cardinal in 76-64 Tempe on Feb. 26.

Stanford: The sixth-seeded Cardinal (20-11) defeated Washington State in Wednesday's first round, 74-63. Guard Chasson Randle led five players in double figures with 22 points. Stanford lost three of four to end the regular season. Bracketology experts project the Cardinal to make the NCAA Tournament. F Dwight Powell (14.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and Randle (18.8 ppg, 40.7 3FG%) are first-team All-Pac-12 selections. Powell scored 28 points in a win against ASU on Feb. 1. F Josh Huestis (11.5 ppg, 8.7 rpg) is an All-Pac-12 Defensive team selection and the school's career shot-blocking leader.